Family says it borrowed money and relied on donations to secure the release of one of 20 prospective corps members abducted in Imo State.

The family of one of the 20 prospective National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members abducted in Imo State has revealed that it paid ₦6 million in ransom to secure his release, despite earlier reports that no ransom was paid.

The family said the kidnappers initially demanded ₦50 million for each victim, leaving relatives scrambling to raise the money needed to secure their loved ones’ freedom.

According to the victim’s mother, the family had to borrow money and depend on donations from relatives and other well-wishers. She said they initially raised about ₦5.5 million, but the kidnappers allegedly refused to release her son until the amount was increased to ₦6 million.

The mother said families of the abducted prospective corps members were instructed to send representatives to Ibadan, where arrangements were made for the ransom payment.

She alleged that after the money was raised, it was converted into dollars before being delivered to the kidnappers in Imo State.

The family also disputed earlier claims that the victims were released without any ransom being paid. According to the mother, the money was handed over to the abductors before her son was eventually released.

She further alleged that the kidnappers demanded an additional ₦1 million per victim, although details of whether the extra amount was paid by other families, and the total ransom eventually collected, remain unclear.

The 20 prospective corps members were reportedly abducted on October 1 while travelling from Ibadan to NYSC orientation camps in Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

After nearly a week in captivity, the victims were released on October 7 in the Amakohia-Ubi area of Imo State.

The revelation has raised fresh questions about the circumstances surrounding the abduction and the claims previously made about ransom negotiations.

For the families involved, however, the priority was clear: getting their children and loved ones home alive.